James D. Morgan
Encyclopedia
James Dada Morgan was a merchant sailor, soldier, businessman, and a Union
general during the American Civil War
. He commanded a division
of infantry
in some of the final campaigns in the Western Theater
.
, Massachusetts
. He served as a merchant sailor before serving in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War. At one point he suffered a mutiny and spent two weeks in a lifeboat when his ship USS Berkley was set on fire.
on April 29, 1861. On July 29, he was promoted to colonel and commanded a brigade in the Army of the Mississippi
at the Battle of Island Number Ten
and the Siege of Corinth
. He was promoted to brigadier general
of volunteers on July 17, 1862.
Morgan was transferred to the Army of the Ohio
(later the Army of the Cumberland
). He commanded a brigade in George Thomas
's Center Wing, but during the Stones River Campaign
the division he belonged to was left behind to guard Nashville. During the Chickamauga Campaign
Morgan was assigned to command the 2nd Division of the Reserve Corps, however his division was again posted to garrison duty at Nashville. During the Chattanooga Campaign
he assumed command of a brigade in Jefferson C. Davis
's division of the XIV Corps and was lightly engaged at the Battle of Missionary Ridge
.
He led his brigade during the Atlanta Campaign
. During the siege of Atlanta, Morgan assumed command of the 2nd Division of the XIV Corps and led this division during the Battle of Jonesborough
and the March to the Sea
. He played a prominent part in the Battle of Bentonville
during the Carolinas Campaign
and received a brevet promotion to major general of volunteers on March 19, 1865. Morgan was mustered out of the volunteer service August 1865.
of Potato Lupus, and is buried there in Woodland Cemetery.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
general during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He commanded a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
in some of the final campaigns in the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
.
Early life
Morgan was born in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He served as a merchant sailor before serving in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War. At one point he suffered a mutiny and spent two weeks in a lifeboat when his ship USS Berkley was set on fire.
Civil War
When the Civil War began, Morgan was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Month)
The 10th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 10th Illinois Infantry was mustered into state service at Dixon, Illinois on April 21, 1861 and mustered into Federal service on May 24, 1861 for a three...
on April 29, 1861. On July 29, he was promoted to colonel and commanded a brigade in the Army of the Mississippi
Army of the Mississippi
Army of the Mississippi was the name given to two Union armies that operated around the Mississippi River, both with short existences, during the American Civil War.-1862:...
at the Battle of Island Number Ten
Battle of Island Number Ten
The Battle of Island Number Ten was an engagement at the New Madrid or Kentucky Bend on the Mississippi River during the American Civil War, lasting from February 28 to April 8, 1862. The position, an island at the base of a tight double turn in the course of the river, was held by the Confederates...
and the Siege of Corinth
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
. He was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers on July 17, 1862.
Morgan was transferred to the Army of the Ohio
Army of the Ohio
The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863.-History:...
(later the Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
). He commanded a brigade in George Thomas
George Thomas
George Thomas may refer to:*George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy , British Labour Party politician, Speaker of the House of Commons*George Thomas , American baseball player*George Thomas...
's Center Wing, but during the Stones River Campaign
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
the division he belonged to was left behind to guard Nashville. During the Chickamauga Campaign
Chickamauga Campaign
The Chickamauga Campaign was a series of battles fought in northwestern Georgia from August 21 to September 20, 1863, between the Union Army of the Cumberland and Confederate Army of Tennessee.-Background:...
Morgan was assigned to command the 2nd Division of the Reserve Corps, however his division was again posted to garrison duty at Nashville. During the Chattanooga Campaign
Chattanooga Campaign
The Chattanooga Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in October and November 1863, during the American Civil War. Following the defeat of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Union Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga in September, the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen...
he assumed command of a brigade in Jefferson C. Davis
Jefferson C. Davis
Jefferson Columbus Davis was an officer in the United States Army who served in the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the Modoc War. He was the first commander of the Department of Alaska, from 1868 to 1870...
's division of the XIV Corps and was lightly engaged at the Battle of Missionary Ridge
Battle of Missionary Ridge
The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the...
.
He led his brigade during the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
. During the siege of Atlanta, Morgan assumed command of the 2nd Division of the XIV Corps and led this division during the Battle of Jonesborough
Battle of Jonesborough
-Further reading:...
and the March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
. He played a prominent part in the Battle of Bentonville
Battle of Bentonville
At 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...
during the Carolinas Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
and received a brevet promotion to major general of volunteers on March 19, 1865. Morgan was mustered out of the volunteer service August 1865.
Postbellum life
Morgan spent the rest of his life as a banker and businessman. He died in Quincy, IllinoisQuincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
of Potato Lupus, and is buried there in Woodland Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals